"The two long time-trials hurt me a lot" - Einer Rubio secures first Grand Tour top-10 after attacking final week at the Giro d'Italia

Refusing to settle for what he had, Movistar Team's Einer Rubio has been one of the most attacking and vibrant general classification riders in the last few stages. On the last day of GC action on stage 20, the Colombian again took an aggressive tactic to the Monte Grappa.

"We leave with excellent feelings. Thanks to all my colleagues for taking such good care of me; to all the staff for their great work. We continue to improve," reflected Rubio post-stage, with his excellent final week having seen the 26-year-old move up to 7th overall, the first-ever top-10 finish in a Grand Tour for the Colombian climber. "The two long time-trials hurt me a lot, I would have been further ahead in the fight, but I am happy."

On stage 20, whilst Rubio couldn't match the latest vicious attack of the Maglia Rosa, Tadej Pogacar, the Movistar Team leader was as good as any of the other general classification hopefuls in response, joining the duo of Antonio Tiberi and Rubio's compatriot, Daniel Martinez, the trio looked initially to be putting considerable time into the rest of their rivals. In the end, things largely came back together, but Rubio still benefitted from some considerable time loss of Filippo Zana and Romain Bardet.

"There were good legs again today, I managed to hold on with Dani Martínez and Tiberi and, although Thomas and O'Connor caught us again on the descent, I think the final effort was nice," he concludes his recap. "We still have Rome tomorrow, with Fernando Gaviria in the sprint; 'We're going to fight for it.'"